How Long Should You Take Off Work When You’re Sick?

Please don’t infect us.

By Justin Paprocki

Next time you feel a cold or flu coming on, give yourself a break. And give your co-workers a break by not spreading your germs all around the office. Sorry—that’s a bit harsh. But it’s what doctors recommend to keep a bad situation from getting worse.

So, how long should you stay away?

The New York Times interviewed doctors on the matter and came to this conclusion: Stay at home until you feel cold- or fever-free for 24 hours. It’s generally enough time to make sure the bug is out of your system.

Of course, those who don’t have paid sick leave face a difficult choice when it comes to staying home. If that’s the case or if you just can’t miss work for whatever reason, the Times came up with some best practices to avoid getting others infected.

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